Chapter 22.3 - These crab claws really are delicious.
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The few days following, An Zeru never once sported a good expression when in front of Cen Cimiao. Breakfast was still bought as usual, and he still diligently cleaned the office; it was just that the shadows around his eyes grew deeper and deeper.
He gritted his teeth and persisted through this harrowing period. Wait until he becomes an official employee, see how he won’t toss her around back!
The result? Just two days later, the phone rang at 4 AM. He was a little dazed. "Who is it?"
Cen Simiao said on the other side: "I’m already at the company. Where’s the breakfast you bought?"
An Zeru: "You f★ck★ng went to work at four o’clock? Who are you? Kobe[2]? Where would I be able to buy you breakfast this early in the morning?"
The other side was in no hurry, "You can figure it out yourself."
And so, this was An Zeru’s first time in the kitchen, even though he was already so old. He sneakily made some rice porridge with the pressure cooker using the steps he found on the internet. He couldn’t bear to embarrass himself by asking the auntie[3]. The fact that he got up so early in order to send someone breakfast, if others knew about it... would he still want to live? So embarrassing…
Cen Simiao's work hours became extremely irregular, so An Zeru began to ask her when she would get to work every day, but he only got a response of two words: ‘not sure’.
This caused him, when he gets home in the evening, to sit cross-legged on the bed, pulling his hair and pondering when Cen Simiao would start work the next day.
At first, he would guess incorrectly quite often. But after several misses, he finally figured out some trick[4] to it and managed to keep up with Cen Simiao’s rhythm most of the time.
The only side effect was that it left him very sleepy, listless, and no energy at all to bicker with Cen Simiao. Every day, after cleaning, he would just want to fall onto the sofa and sleep.
After all, it was enough for him to just muddle through this period of time. So he may as well write himself off as hopeless and act recklessly.
As he was about to sit on the sofa, he heard Cen Simiao call him. An Zeru rubbed his eyes as he slowly walked towards the front of her desk and yawned.
Cen Simiao held the pen in her hand as she raised her eyes to look at him. "Why are you so tired, didn't rest well last night?"
An Zeru's heart had a sudden burst of anger and he was just about to yell, but then he pursed his lips, lowered his head, and didn’t actually speak out. He yawned again, incredibly drowsy.
Then he heard her say: "You have been here for a while, so it's about time for me to teach you some things. I sketched a design these past few days, you can have a look."
An Zeru wanted to open his mouth and mock her with a few words, but he didn’t really have the energy. He raised his eyelids and wanted to just take a cursory glance, but he was unexpectedly stunned. His eyes became serious and his previous sleepy appearance disappeared in an instant.
His expression became rather stern, while the unruliness that was typically between his brows had also been replaced by a deep focus. He just stared at the sketch on the table with the utmost concentration. And the suit he wore, at this moment, exuded a different flavor.
An Zeru’s knowledge and skill were never a problem but design was a weak point of his, and he has been trying to make up for it. While he has made a lot of progress, and there had been praises from within the industry, he was still dissatisfied.
Cen Simiao’s eyelashes lowered, feeling a bit guilty. This design was done with the help of the system. Just as she was about to clear her throat, she heard his tone which was lowered: "This is your work?"
She raised her eyes and met his, which were full of earnestness and enthusiasm.
Cen Simiao pursed her lips and picked up her coffee. The cloying sweetness slid past her throat, but she didn’t feel as repulsed by it as before. Her eyes curved, and she placed the cup back in front of her. "Don’t keep staying in your daze. Go get me another cup."
An Zeru hadn’t had a good rest, so his brain wasn’t functioning very well. Reflexively as if conditioned, he picked up the cup and commented, "There are a lot of people in the lounge at this time, you’ll have to wait a bit."
His mind only came back after he had turned around.
He immediately frowned and looked back towards Cen Simiao. She was leaning against the chair with a smile in her eyes as she returned his look. An Zeru scowled. "What are you looking at me for?"
Cen Simiao chin was slightly raised, and while still staring at him, her eyebrows quirked up. An Zeru’s brows deeply furrowed and he lowered his head, looking particularly unhappy. He took a glance at her but quickly twisted his head to the other side in unease.
[2] Apparently, Kobe Bryant wakes up at 4 to work out.
[3] This auntie here is the household staff that takes care of the meals.
[4] Was this a foreshadow?
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